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No. 622,640. Patented Apr. 4, I399.

W. C. SHIMDNECK. FOLDING SUPPORT 0B HOLDER FOR ARTISTS TABLETS.

(Application filed. Mar. 25, 1898.) (No Model.)

ATTORNEYS.

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llivrrno STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

'WILLIAM C. SHIMONEOK, OF WVASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FOLDING SUPPORT R HOLDER FOR ARTISTS TABLETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,640, dated April 4, 1899.

Application filed March 25, 1898.

or where a table, desk, or other support is not available.

The body of the tablet-holder is composed of leather, canvas, or some other duly pliable material, and the same is held stretched by means of a collapsible frame formed of light metal bars which are detachable from each other in such manner that the body of the Y tablet may be left free to be folded or rolled into compact form, whereby it, together with the detachable frame portion, may be packed in a case for convenience of handling or of transportation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the practical use of my invention. Fig. 2'is a plan View of the under side of my tablet as stretched and held in working position. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail perspective views to which further reference will be made. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the holder rolled or folded.

The body 1 of the tablet-holder is preferably composed of leather of due thickness and having a smooth upper surface; but I propose to employ as a substitute canvas, duck, or any other suitable material. The body 1 is oblong and rectangular, and its ends are secured between angular metal framepieces 2 and 3, the part 2 being applied exteriorly and the smaller piece 3 being applied internally, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 5. The ends of the body 1 are thus bent at a right angle where they lie between the metal clamping-pieces 2 and 3, and the parts are secured together by rivets passing through them, as shown. The upper edge of the angular clamping-piece 2 is preferably constructed with a straight inner edge, as shown in Fig. 4; but

I may in some cases construct it with perforated ears or extensions 4-, as shown in Fig. 5.

Serial No. 675,169. (No model.)

It will be seen that these clamping-pieces 2 and 3 hold the flexible body 1 distended transversely at its ends. The means for holding the body 1 distended or stretched lengt wise are the removable metal bars 5, whose arrangement is shown in Fig. 2. The ends of these bars are adapted to fit under brackets or lugs 6, (see Fig. 6,) which are secured at the ends of the inner clamping-pieces 3-- that is to say, the ends of the bars 5 are adapted to slide in and out of the recesses formed beneath the lugs 6, as illustrated by full and dotted lines in Fig. 6. The said bars 5 are thus in the nature of detachable stretchers,whoseattachmentand detachment may be readily effected at will. The means for holding such stretchers in due working position, as shown in Fig. 2, consists of a fiat oblong metal plate 7, having transverse slots 8 at its ends, which are adapted to receive flat-headed screws 9, that are inserted in threaded holes formed in the stretchers or bars 5. It is apparent that when the heads of the screws 9 are turned crosswise of the slots 8 the plate 7 will be held or clamped to the stretchers 5, and thereby hold the latter duly engaged with thelugs or brackets 6, and, contrariwise,wheu the heads of the screws 9 are turned into parallelism with the slots 8 the plate 7 may be readily removed, which in turn allows detachment of the stretchers 5. In addition to the function above described the plate 7 serves as a means for holding and attaching the tablet proper on the hand of the artist, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A spring-clamp 10 is for this purpose attached to said plate at its center. The same consists of a strip of thin spring metal whose ends are curved outward and then inward, but separated in order to allow them to separate more or less when two or more fingers of the hand are inserted between them, as illustrated by dotted lines, Fig. 2. This spring clamp or holder 10 is pivoted centrally to adapt it to revolve on the plate 7, so that the tablet may be shifted rotatably to any required angle or turned end for end, as conditions may require. The sheet of paper or canvas or other material upon which a sketch or painting is to be made is held upon the fiat smooth surface of the tablet by means of spring-clamps 11, which are secured to the outer frame-pieces 2 and extend over upon the body 1 of the tablet, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Two of these clamps are arranged at each end of the tablet proper, so that each end of the sheet of paper or canvas is duly clamped in place.

As'a means for supporting the tablet holder with due steadiness in working position and also for relieving the supporting-arm of the artist of undue strain I employ strap or band 12, which is attached to the tablet proper and passes around the neck or shoulders of the artist, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The ends of such strap are provided with holes to adapt them for adjustable attachment to lateral extensions-13 of the stretchers 5. (See Fig. 2.) The said extensions 13 are in the nature of trunnions,since they form points of pivotal support for the tablet proper, whereby the latter is adapted for adjustment at different angles lengthwise, as convenience of work may require. They are made detachable from the stretchers 5, being inserted in suitable sockets and secured by nuts 14, which are screwed upon their inner ends. Any other mode of attachment may, however, be employed, and it is not necessary to due efficiency of the tablet that the trunnions shall be detachable. In some cases it may be desirable to suspend the tablet proper in the strap 12 by means of trunnions or pivots 13, applied at the ends of the same. (See Fig. 2.) When the strap 12 is used, hand support of the tablet is unnecessary.

As thus constructed the tablet-holder is adapted .for convenient use for the purpose stated, and to further adapt it to be conveniently carried or packed in small space the holding-plate 7 is detached from the stretcher- I bars 5, and they are in turn detached from the body 1, and the latter is rolled, as shown in Fig. '7, the said plate, stretchers, and the supporting-strap 12 being inclosed by the same. In this form the tablet-holder proper and its attachments are adapted to be inserted in a protecting case or bag of any suitable material and mayhence be carried in the pocket or otherwise disposed of, as convenience may require.

What I claim is-' 1. The improved artists-tablet support or holder, comprising a flexible plate or body portion the rigid metal pieces secured to its opposite ends and having lugs or recessed brackets on their inner sides, and the stretcherbars adapted for detachable connection with such end pieces, and arranged parallel, substantially as shown and described.

2. The improved artists-tablet support or holder comprising the flexible body portion, metal pieces secured to the ends of the same and holding it distended crosswise, metal stretcher-bars which are detachably engaged with such end pieces and a rigid device or cross-plate which detachablyconnects such stretcher-bars and holds them normally in such engagement, substantially as shown and described.

3. The improved artists-tablet support or holder, comprising a flexible body portion adapted for supporting the material to be worked on, a frame to which such body is attached, a holder adapted to receive a portion of the hand of the artist, the same being pivoted to the frame, whereby the tablet proper is adapted to be turned .or rotated for the purpose of adjusting it in different working positions.

4:. The combination, with the tablet support or holder proper, of a plate secured to the under side thereof, and a spring-clamp which is pivoted to such plate and constructed with separated ends, whereby it is adapted to receive one or more fingers of the hand, as shown and described.

5. The combination, with the tablet support or holder proper, of the detachable plate having a device for attachment to the hand of the artist, said plate being provided with the crosswise slots, and screws whose heads are adapted-to pass through said slots and to engage the outer side of the plate, for clamping it in working position, as shown and described.

6. The improved tablet-holder, comprising the flexible body having rigid metal pieces, or bars, secured to its ends and projecting on the under side of said body, recessed lugs attached to such projecting portions at the ends of the latter, and rigid stretcher-bars whose ends are adapted to slide under said lugs, and abut the projecting portions of the end pieces, as shown and described.

7. The combination, with the flexible body of the tablet support or holder of the recessed brackets or lugs secured at its respective corners, stretcher-bars which detachably en gage said lugs, and a holding-plate arranged transversely and detachably connected with such bars, whereby the latter are held parallel and theflexible body thereby stretched or distended, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM G. SHIMONECK/ Witnesses:

SoLoN O. KEMoN, AMos W. HART. 

